Charlie Higson reveals more Young Bond book 2 details

04-Jun-2005 • Young Bond

In an interview with CBBC at the famous book festival in Hay-on-Wye last week, Young Bond author Charlie Higson revealed more details about the second book of the series.

Can you reveal anything about the next book?
It's mainly set in Sardinia. It contains pirates, bandits, art thieves and a shoot out in a cave; everything you could want from a James Bond book. James goes to Sardinia on a school archaeological trip. I wanted to set the second book somewhere reasonably exotic. James Bond is known for travelling to such places. But it had to be somewhere James could get to during the summer holidays. That's why I chose the Mediterranean. I didn't want to use somewhere overly familiar like Greece or Italy or Spain. People don't know much about Sardinia. It's an interesting island with a history of banditry. I've been there a few times and I really like it. I saw an artist's impression of a cave there. Inside are the remains of a Neolithic village. I thought it would make a great villain's lair. I visited the cave last week and it's not quite as exciting as the artists' impression but the whole island is covered in remains of monuments and towers from the past, built between 2,000 and 3,000 BC. It's a fantastic setting for an adventure.

Is Double M still the working title for the second book or has a final title been selected?
Double M is still the working title. I quite like it as it combines the double from 007 and M , who is head of the British Secret Intelligence Service MI6. But the title's not considered racy enough. Double M (MM) refers to the symbol of a secret criminal society in the second book.

Are you going to include anything in the next book like you did about Red Grant's father at the circus in SilverFin?
Russia with Love. Ian Fleming tells us that his father is a strong man in a circus. In SilverFin. James sees The Mighty Donovan lifting weights with his teeth at the circus. Little does he know that years later he will get into a tangle with Donovan's son. I put it in there as a reference to the adult Bond books. There are a few bits like that in the second book which Bond fanatics will be able to pick out. For example, there is a suggestion as to why the number seven is significant in 007. There are many theories as to why Ian Fleming chose this number.

When's the next book coming out?
It's coming out in January 2006.

Any plans for a young Bond film or series?
Perhaps further down the line. The plan is to get the books established first.

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.